Sound source probing apparatus, sound source probing method, and storage medium storing program therefor

ABSTRACT

A sound source probing apparatus, including storage and processing circuitry, is provided that probes a direction of a sound source. The processing circuitry performs operations including determining a first correlation matrix that is a correlation matrix of acoustic signals acquired as observation signals by a microphone array including two or more microphones disposed apart from each other. The operations also include determining, by learning, weights such that a linear sum of a plurality of second correlation matrices multiplied by the respective weights is equal to the first correlation matrix where the plurality of second correlation matrices are correlation matrices, which are determined for respective directions determined based on an array arrangement of the microphone array and which are stored in advance in the storage. The operations further include determining, using the determined weights, a spatial spectrum of the observation signal indicating sound pressure intensities in the respective directions.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a sound source probing apparatus, asound source probing method, and a storage medium storing a programtherefor.

2. Description of the Related Art

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2014-56181 discloses a sound source direction estimation apparatuscapable of accurately estimating a direction of a sound source based ona plurality of acoustic signals acquired a plurality of microphoneunits. In this technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2014-56181, noise is handled using acorrelation matrix of noise signals based on a plurality of acousticsignals thereby making it possible to accurately estimate the directionof the sound source from the plurality of acoustic signals.

SUMMARY

In the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014-56181, the correlation matrix of the noise signalsis calculated based on the plurality of acoustic signals acquired asobservation signals by the plurality of microphone units. Therefore,when a noise source and a sound source to be probed both existsimultaneously or when the level of noise is higher than the level of asound source to be probed, it is difficult to determine an accuratecorrelation matrix including only noise components. That is, in thetechnique in which a sound source probing is performed based on a signalphase difference between a plurality of acoustic signals acquired via aplurality of microphone units, there is a problem that when there isnoise with a sound pressure level higher than the sound pressure levelof a sound source, an influence of the noise may make it difficult todetect the sound source to be probed.

One non-limiting and exemplary embodiment provides a sound sourceprobing apparatus capable of surely probing a direction of a soundsource located in a probing range.

In one general aspect, the techniques disclosed here feature a soundsource probing apparatus, that probes a direction of a sound source,including storage, and processing circuitry that, in operation, performsoperations including determining a first correlation matrix that is acorrelation matrix of acoustic signals acquired as observation signalsby a microphone array including two or more microphones disposed apartfrom each other, determining, by learning, weights such that a linearsum of a plurality of second correlation matrices multiplied by therespective weights is equal to the first correlation matrix where theplurality of second correlation matrices are correlation matrices, whichare determined for respective directions determined based on an arrayarrangement of the microphone array and which are stored in advance inthe storage, and determining, using the determined weights, a spatialspectrum of the observation signal indicating sound pressure intensitiesin the respective directions.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to achieve a soundsource probing apparatus or the like capable of surely probing adirection of a sound source existing in a probing range.

It should be noted that general or specific embodiments may beimplemented as a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computerprogram, a storage medium, or any selective combination thereof.

Additional benefits and advantages of the disclosed embodiments willbecome apparent from the specification and drawings. The benefits and/oradvantages may be individually obtained by the various embodiments andfeatures of the specification and drawings, which need not all beprovided in order to obtain one or more of such benefits and/oradvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of soundsource probing system according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationshipbetween a microphone array according to the first embodiment and a soundsource direction in which a sound source exists;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a spatial spectrum of an observationsignal observed by the microphone array in a state in which thepositional relationship is as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configurationof the sound source probing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of selectionperformed by a selection unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of anonlinear function unit according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a sound source probing process by asound source probing apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating details of the sound source probingprocess illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a spatial spectrum diagram in a comparative example;

FIG. 10 is a spatial spectrum diagram according to the first embodiment;and

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of asound source probing system according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an aspect, a sound source probing apparatus, that probes a directionof a sound source, includes storage, and processing circuitry that, inoperation, performs operations including determining a first correlationmatrix that is a correlation matrix of acoustic signals acquired asobservation signals by a microphone array including two or moremicrophones disposed apart from each other, determining, by learning,weights such that a linear sum of a plurality of second correlationmatrices multiplied by the respective weights is equal to the firstcorrelation matrix where the plurality of second correlation matricesare correlation matrices, which are determined for respective directionsdetermined based on an array arrangement of the microphone array andwhich are stored in advance in the storage, and determining, using thedetermined weights, a spatial spectrum of the observation signalindicating sound pressure intensities in the respective directions.

In this aspect, it is assured that it is possible of probing a directionof a sound source existing in a probing range. Furthermore, since thespatial spectrum of the observation signal is determined using theweights determined via the learning, it is possible to achieve the soundsource probing apparatus having the high noise immunity performance andthe high performance in terms of the quick response to a change insound.

In the sound source probing apparatus, the operations may furtherinclude selecting one first element from elements of the firstcorrelation matrix and also selecting one second element from elementsof each of the second correlation matrices such that each second elementis at a matrix element position corresponding to a matrix elementposition of the first element, and sequentially changing the firstelement and the second elements by changing the matrix element positionat which the first and second elements are selected, and wherein thedetermining of the weights may include updating the weights from firstvalues to second values that allow a linear sum of the second elementsmultiplied by the respective second values of the weights to be equal tothe first element, updating the weights from the second values to thirdvalues that allow a linear sum of next-selected second elementsmultiplied by the respective third values of the weights to be equal toa next-selected first element, and further repeating the updating of thevalues of the weights each time the first element and the secondelements are changed thereby determining the weights.

In this aspect it is possible to determine, via the learning, theweights that allow the above-described equality to be achieved at thesame time for each of all combinations of the matrix element of thefirst correlation matrix and the corresponding matrix elements of theplurality of the second correlation matrix, and thus it is ensured thatit is possible to prove the direction of the sound source existing inthe probing range based on the acoustic signals detected by themicrophone array including three or more microphones.

In the sound source probing apparatus, in the selecting, the firstelement and the second elements may be selected only from either one oftwo groups of elements of respective correlation matrices including thefirst correlation matrix and the second correlation matrices, the twogroups of elements of each correlation matrix being defined such thatthe correlation matrix is divided into the two groups by a boundarydefined by diagonal elements such that each group includes a pluralityof elements but does not include the diagonal elements.

This allows a reduction in the amount of calculation, and thus itbecomes possible to probe, at a higher detection speed, the direction ofthe sound source existing in the probing range.

In the sound source probing apparatus, in the determining of theweights, the weights may be determined based on the second correlationmatrix and an error between the linear sum and the first correlationmatrix using an LMS (Least Mean Square) algorithm or ICA (IndependentComponent Analysis).

In this aspect, it is possible to determine the intensities inrespective directions while cancelling out influences by otherdirections, and thus it is possible to achieve the sound source probingapparatus having the high noise immunity performance.

In the sound source probing apparatus, the determining of the weightsmay include holding the weights, determining a linear sum of theproducts of the second correlation matrices and the respective heldweights, determining an error defined by the difference between thelinear sum and the first correlation matrix, determining weight changeamounts from the error and the products of the second correlationmatrices and the weights, and updating the weights by addling the weightchange amounts to the respective held weights.

In the sound source probing apparatus, in the determining of theweights, the weight change amounts may be determined from the error andthe second correlation matrices using an LMS algorithm or ICA.

In the sound source probing apparatus, the determining of the weightsmay further include adding nonlinearity to the error using apredetermined nonlinear function, and in the determining of the updateamounts, the weight change amounts are determined from the error addedwith the nonlinearity and the second correlation matrices.

In this aspect, the adding of the nonlinearity to the determined errormakes it possible to reduce the influence among directions, and thus itis possible to achieve the sound source probing apparatus having thehigh noise immunity performance.

In another aspect, a method of probing a direction of a sound sourceincludes determining a first correlation matrix that is a correlationmatrix of acoustic signals acquired as observation signals by amicrophone array including two or more microphones disposed apart fromeach other, determining, by learning, weights such that a linear sum ofa plurality of second correlation matrices multiplied by the respectiveweights is equal to the first correlation matrix where the plurality ofsecond correlation matrices are correlation matrices, which aredetermined for respective directions determined based on an arrayarrangement of the microphone array and which are stored in advance instorage, and determining, using the determined weights, a spatialspectrum of the observation signal indicating sound pressure intensitiesin the respective directions.

In another aspect, in a computer-readable non-transitory storage mediumstoring a program for causing a computer to execute a method of probinga direction of a sound source, the program, when executed by thecomputer, causes the computer to execute the method includingdetermining a first correlation matrix that is a correlation matrix ofacoustic signals acquired as observation signals by a microphone arrayincluding two or more microphones disposed apart from each other,determining, by learning, weights such that a linear sum of a pluralityof second correlation matrices multiplied by the respective weights isequal to the first correlation matrix where the plurality of secondcorrelation matrices are correlation matrices, which are determined forrespective directions determined based on an array arrangement of themicrophone array and which are stored in advance in storage, anddetermining, using the determined weights, a spatial spectrum of theobservation signal indicating sound pressure intensities in therespective directions.

It should be noted that general or specific embodiments may beimplemented as a system, a method, a computer program, orcomputer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM disk, or any selectivecombination of a system, a method, a computer program, andcomputer-readable storage medium.

A sound source probing apparatus according to an embodiment is describedin detail below with reference to drawings. Note that each embodimentdescribed below is for illustrating a specific example of animplementation of the present disclosure. That is, in the followingembodiments of the present disclosure, values, shapes, materials,constituent elements, locations of constituent elements and the like aredescribed by way of example but not limitation. Among constituentelements described in the following embodiments, those constituentelements that are not described in independent claims indicatinghighest-level concepts of the present disclosure are optional. Also notethat various combinations of part or all of embodiments are possible.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of asound source probing system 1000 according to a first embodiment. Thesound source probing system 1000 is used to probe a direction of a soundsource. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the soundsource probing system 1000 includes a sound source probing apparatus 1,a microphone array 200, and a frequency analysis unit 300.

Microphone Array 200

The microphone array 200 includes two or more microphone units disposedapart from each other. The microphone array 200 observes, that is,detects acoustic waves coming from all directions, and outputs electricsignals converted from acoustic signals. In the following description ofthe present embodiment, it is assumed by way of example that themicrophone array 200 includes three microphone units, that is,microphone units 201, 202, and 203. The microphone unit 201, themicrophone unit 202, and the microphone unit 203 each are, for example,a nondirectional microphone having a high sensitivity to an acousticpressure, and they are disposed apart from each other (in other words,they are disposed at different locations). The microphone unit 201outputs an acoustic signal m1(n) which is a time-domain signal acquiredas a result of converting a sensed acoustic wave to an electric signal.Similarly, the microphone unit 202 outputs an acoustic signal m2(n)which is a time-domain signal acquired as a result of converting asensed acoustic wave to an electric signal, and the microphone unit 203outputs an acoustic signal m3(n) which is a time-domain signal acquiredas a result of converting a sensed acoustic wave to an electric signal,

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a positional relationshipbetween the microphone array 200 according to the first embodiment and asound source direction in which a sound source S exists. FIG. 3 is adiagram illustrating a spatial spectrum of an observation signalobserved by the microphone array 200 in a state in which the positionalrelationship is as illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, themicrophone array 200 is configured in the form of an array arrangementin which the microphone unit 201, the microphone unit 202, and themicrophone unit 203 are arranged in line along an axis of θ=0°. As alsoillustrated in FIG. 2, the sound source S exists in a direction at anangle of θ=θs with respect to the microphone array 200. In this example,there is no sound source generating a disturbing sound. In this case, aspatial spectrum is obtained as a result of probing by the sound sourceprobing apparatus 1 as illustrated in FIG. 3. In the spatial spectrumobtained as the result of the probing illustrated in FIG. 3, a greatestintensity appears at an angle θs.

Frequency Analysis Unit 300

The frequency analysis unit 300 converts the acoustic signals observedby the respective two or more microphone units to frequency-domainsignals and outputs results as frequency spectrum signal. Morespecifically, the frequency analysis unit 300 performs frequencyanalysis on the acoustic signals input from the microphone array 200,and outputs frequency spectrum signals which are frequency-domainsignals. The frequency analysis may be performed using a technique ofconverting a time-domain signal to amplitude information and phaseinformation as a function of frequency, such as fast Fourier transform(FFT), discrete Fourier transform (DFT), etc.

In the present embodiment, the frequency analysis unit 300 includes anFFT 301, an FFT 302, and an FFT 303, which respectively perform a fastFourier transform. The FFT 301 receives an input of an acoustic signalm1(n) output from the microphone unit 201, and converts the inputacoustic signal m1(n) from a time domain to a frequency domain using thefast Fourier transform. The FFT 301 outputs a resultant frequencyspectrum signal Sm1(ω). The FFT 302 receives an input of an acousticsignal m2(n) output from the microphone unit 202, and converts the inputacoustic signal m2(n) from a time domain to a frequency domain using thefast Fourier transform. The FFT 302 outputs a resultant frequencyspectrum signal Sm2(ω). The FFT 303 receives an input of an acousticsignal m3(n) output from the microphone unit 203, and converts the inputacoustic signal m3(n) from a time domain to a frequency domain using thefast Fourier transform. The FFT 303 outputs a resultant frequencyspectrum signal Sm3(ω).

Sound Source Probing Apparatus 1

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configurationof the sound source probing apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The sound source probing apparatus 1 probes a direction of a soundsource. In the present embodiment, the sound source probing apparatus 1includes, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, a correlation matrixcalculation unit 10, storage 20, a selection unit 30, a learning unit40, a spatial spectrum calculation unit 100, and an output unit 110.Note that the sound source probing apparatus 1 may not include theselection unit 30 when the microphone array 200 includes only twomicrophone units. Also note that the microphone array 200 and thefrequency analysis unit 300 may be included in the sound source probingapparatus 1. Each constituent element is described below.

Correlation Matrix Calculation Unit 10

The correlation matrix calculation unit 10 calculates a firstcorrelation matrix, that is, a correlation matrix of observation signalswhich are acoustic signals collected by the microphone array 200. In thepresent embodiment, the correlation matrix calculation unit 10calculates an observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) as the firstcorrelation matrix from the frequency spectra output from the frequencyanalysis unit 300. More specifically, the correlation matrix calculationunit 10 calculates the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) from thefrequency spectrum signal Sm1(ω) input from the FFT 301, the frequencyspectrum signal Sm2(ω) input from the FFT 302, and the frequencyspectrum signal Sm3(ω) input from the FFT 303 according to equations (1)and (2) described below.

Elements X_(ij)(ω) of the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) areacoustic waves that arrive at the respective microphone units and theelements X_(ij)(ω) have phase difference information on a plurality ofacoustic waves coming from a plurality of sound sources existing in anactual environment. For example, an element X₁₂(ω) in equation (1)represents phase difference information on a phase difference betweenacoustic waves arriving at the microphone unit 201 and the microphoneunit 202. For example, an element X₁₃(ω) in equation (1) representsphase difference information on a phase difference between acousticwaves arriving at the microphone unit 201 and the microphone unit 203.In equation (2), (·)* denotes complex conjugate.

$\begin{matrix}{{{Rx}(\omega)} = \begin{bmatrix}{x_{11}(\omega)} & {x_{12}(\omega)} & {x_{13}(\omega)} \\{x_{21}(\omega)} & {x_{22}(\omega)} & {x_{23}(\omega)} \\{x_{31}(\omega)} & {x_{32}(\omega)} & {x_{33}(\omega)}\end{bmatrix}} & (1) \\{{x_{ij}(\omega)} = \frac{{{Sm}_{i}(\omega)}*{{Sm}_{j}(\omega)}}{{{{Sm}_{i}(\omega)}}{{{Sm}_{j}(\omega)}}}} & (2)\end{matrix}$

In the present embodiment, in a case where the microphone units denotedas the microphone units 201 to 203 have sound pressure sensitivitycharacteristics which are substantially flat and substantially equal toeach other, the elements X_(ij)(ω) of the observation correlation matrixRx(ω) can be described by equation (3). Note that each element X_(ij)(ω)of the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) is equivalent to a valueobtained by eliminating the normalization term of the denominator of acorresponding element in equation (2).X _(ij)(ω)=Sm _(i)(ω)*Sm _(j)(ω)   (3)Storage 20

The storage 20 stores, in advance, a plurality of second correlationmatrices calculated for the respective directions from the arrayarrangement of the microphone array 200.

In the present embodiment, the storage 20 may include a memory or thelike, and, in the storage 20, reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω)for respective probing directions θ are stored in advance as secondcorrelation matrices. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, in thestorage 20, for example, as many reference correlation matrices Rr(θ₁,ω) to Rr(θ_(N), ω) as N=180 in a range 0≤θ≤180 are stored in advance.

The reference correlation matrix Rr(θ, ω) represents phase differencesamong microphone units for an acoustic wave coming from each directionθ, and thus the reference correlation matrix Rr(θ, ω) can betheoretically calculated for a given sound source direction and a givenarray arrangement, that is, the arrangement of microphone units of themicrophone array 200. A method of calculating the reference correlationmatrix Rr(θ, ω) is described below for a case in which the arrayarrangement of the microphone array 200 is as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the example of the array arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2, asdescribed above, microphone units 201 to 203 are disposed in a lineararray in the microphone array 200. Furthermore, in this exampleillustrated in FIG. 2, the sound source S exists in the direction θs.

An acoustic wave originating from the sound source S arrives at therespective microphone units 201 to 203 such that an arrival time at themicrophone unit 201 is earlier by time τ with respect to the arrivaltime at the center microphone unit 202, and an arrival time at themicrophone unit 203 is later by time τ with respect to the arrival timeat the center microphone unit 202. The time τ can be calculatedaccording to equation (4) described below.τ=L·cos(θs)/c   (4)where L denotes the distance between adjacent microphone units, and cdenotes an acoustic velocity.

A directional vector indicating a phase difference relationship amongthe microphone units 201 to 203 for the acoustic wave coming from thedirection θ can be represented using equation (5) with reference to thelocation of the center microphone unit 202.

$\begin{matrix}{{d\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} = \left\lbrack {{\exp\left( {j\;\omega\frac{{L \cdot \cos}\;\theta}{c}} \right)}1{\exp\left( {{- j}\;\omega\frac{{L \cdot \cos}\;\theta}{c}} \right)}} \right\rbrack} & (5)\end{matrix}$

Therefore, the reference correlation matrix Rr(θ, ω) for the soundsource located in the direction of θ, that is, the reference correlationmatrix Rr(θ, ω) for the direction of θ can be calculated from equations(2), (3), and (5) as in equation (6) described below.

$\begin{matrix}{{{Rr}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} = {{{d^{H}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}{d\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}} = \begin{bmatrix}{r_{11}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} & {r_{12}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} & {r_{13}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} \\{r_{21}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} & {r_{22}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} & {r_{23}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} \\{r_{31}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} & {r_{32}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} & {r_{33}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}\end{bmatrix}}} & (6)\end{matrix}$where (·)^(H) denotes complex conjugate transpose.

In the manner described above, the reference correlation matrices Rr(θ₁,ω) to Rr(θ_(N), ω) are calculated for the respective directions θ₁ toθ_(N) (for example N=180).

Selection Unit 30

The selection unit 30 selects one first element from elements of thefirst correlation matrix and also selects one second element fromelements of each of the second correlation matrices such that eachsecond element is at a matrix element position corresponding to a matrixelement position of the first element, and sequentially changes thefirst element and the second elements by changing the matrix elementposition at which the first and second elements are selected, In thisselection process, the selection unit 30 may limit element positions inthe selection such that the first element and the second elements areselected only from either one of two groups of elements of respectivecorrelation matrices including the first correlation matrix and thesecond correlation matrices, where the two groups of elements of eachcorrelation matrix are defined such that the correlation matrix isdivided into the two groups by a boundary defined by diagonal elementssuch that each group includes a plurality of elements but does notinclude the diagonal elements.

In the present embodiment, the selection unit 30 receives inputs of theobservation correlation matrix Rx(ω) from the correlation matrixcalculation unit 10 and the reference correlation matrix Rr(θ, ω) fromthe storage 20, and the selection unit 30 selects an element, at amatrix element position, of the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) andalso sects an element, at a corresponding matrix element position, ofeach of the reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω), and the selectionunit 30 outputs the selected elements. The selection unit 30 includes,as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 4, a matrix element selection unit31 and matrix element selection units 32-1 to 32-N. Although FIG. 4illustrates only two matrix element selection units, that is, the matrixelement selection unit 32-1 that receives an input of the referencecorrelation matrix Rr(θ₁, ω) corresponding to the direction θ₁ and thematrix element selection unit 32-N that receives an input of thereference correlation matrix Rr(θ_(N), ω) corresponding to the directionθ_(N), the selection unit 30 may include other matrix element selectionunits. In a case where the number of directions N=180, N matrix elementselection units 32-1 to 32-N are provided to receive inputs of referencecorrelation matrices Rr(θ₁, ω) to Rr(θ_(N), ω) corresponding todirections θ₁ to θ_(N).

Next, an example of a selection method used by the selection unit 30 isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of selectionperformed by the selection unit 30 according to the first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the matrix element selection unit 31 selectone of elements (also referred to as matrix elements) of the observationcorrelation matrix Rx(ω) input from the correlation matrix calculationunit 10, and the matrix element selection unit 31 outputs the selectedelement as a phase difference signal x(ω). The matrix element selectionunit 32-m (m is an integer in a range from 1 (inclusive) to N(inclusive)) selects one of elements of the reference correlation matrixRr(θ_(m), ω) input from the storage 20 such that the selected element islocated in the same row and column as the row and column in which theelement selected by the matrix element selection unit 31 is located, andthe matrix element selection unit 32-m outputs the selected element as aphase difference signal r(θ_(m), ω).

Note that in normal cases, diagonal elements of each correlation matrixeach have a value of 1, and thus the diagonal elements do not make anycontribution to signal processing. In each correlation matrix, elementsx_(ij) and x_(ji), whose row and column are replaced by each other, areopposite in phase and identical to each other in terms of information.Taking into account these facts, the selection unit 30 may perform theselection such that each matrix of the reference correlation matrixRr(θ, ω) and the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) is divided intotwo groups by a boundary defined by diagonal elements such that eachgroup includes a plurality of elements but does not include the diagonalelements, and the element is selected only from the plurality ofelements included in one of the two groups. That is, the selection unit30 may select elements from an upper triangular matrix or a lowertriangular matrix excluding diagonal elements of each of the referencecorrelation matrices Rr(θ, ω) and the observation correlation matrixRx(ω) and may output the selected elements. This makes it possible forthe sound source probing apparatus 1 to reduce the amount ofcalculation.

Furthermore, to reduce the amount of calculation, the selection unit 30may reduce the number of elements of the upper triangular matrix or thelower triangular matrix from which to select the element.

Learning Unit 40

The learning unit 40 performs learning on weights to determine theweights to be applied to the plurality of second correlation matricesstored in advance in the storage 20 such that the linear sum of theplurality of second correlation matrices multiplied by the respectiveweights is equal to the first correlation matrix. In this learningprocess, the learning unit 40 calculates the weights from the secondcorrelation matrices and an error between the linear sum and the firstcorrelation matrix by using an LMS algorithm or ICA (IndependentComponent Analysis). More specifically, the learning unit 40 determines,by learning, values of the weights that allow the linear sum of theproducts of second elements selected by the selection unit 30 and therespective values of the weights to be equal to the first elementselected by the selection unit 30, and the learning unit 40 updates thevalues of the weights from first values to second values obtained as aresult of the learning. Thereafter, the learning unit 40 furtherdetermines, by learning, third values of the weights that allow thelinear sum of the products of second elements selected next by theselection unit 30 and the respective third values of the weights to beequal to the first element selected next by the selection unit 30, andthe learning unit 40 updates the values of the weights from the secondvalues to the third values obtained as a result of the learning. Thelearning unit 40 repeats the updating sequentially thereby calculatingthe weights by learning.

In the present embodiment, the learning unit 40 includes, as illustratedin FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, a holding unit 50, a linear sum calculation unit60, an error calculation unit 70, a nonlinear function unit 80, and aweight updating unit 90. Note that the learning unit 40 does notnecessarily need to include the nonlinear function unit 80, that is, thelearning unit 40 may not include the nonlinear function unit 80.

Holding Unit 50

The holding unit 50 holds weights that are to be updated by the weightupdating unit 90. The holding unit 50 holds weights to be multiplied bythe respective reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω). In other words,each of the weights is used in common for all elements of the referencecorrelation matrices Rr(θ₁, ω) to Rr(θ_(N), ω).

Each weight is a function of variables of θ and ω. By treating ω as aconstant, it is possible to regard it as a one-dimensional coefficient.Thus, in the following discussion, the weights are denoted as weightingcoefficients a(θ, ω).

In the present embodiment, the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) arecoefficients multiplied by the respective reference correlation matricesRr(θ, ω) defined in the various directions θ. FIG. 4 illustrates anexample in which weighting coefficients a(θ₁, ω) to a(θ_(N), ω)corresponding to respective directions θ₁ to θ_(N) (N=180) associatedwith reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω) are illustrated for 180directions in the range of 0≤θ≤180.

The holding unit 50 holds the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω)) updated bythe weight updating unit 90. That is, the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω)are learning coefficients whose value is updated based on the weightchange amount calculated by the weight updating unit 90. The holdingunit 50 outputs the held weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) to the spatialspectrum calculation unit 100.

Linear Sum Calculation Unit 60

The linear sum calculation unit 60 calculates the linear sum of theplurality of second correlation matrices respectively weighted byweights held by the holding unit 50.

In the present embodiment, the linear sum calculation unit 60 includes,as illustrated in FIG. 4, signal multiplication units 61-1 to 61-N and asignal addition unit 62.

The signal multiplication unit 61-1 multiplies the element r(θ₁, ω) ofthe reference correlation matrix Rr(θ₁, ω) selected by the matrixelement selection unit 32-1 by the weighting coefficient a(θ₁, ω) in thedirection θ₁, and outputs a result to the signal addition unit 62.Similarly, the signal multiplication unit 61-N multiplies the elementr(θ_(N), ω) of the reference correlation matrix Rr(θ_(N), ω) selected bythe matrix element selection unit 32-N by the weighting coefficienta(θ_(N), ω) in the direction θ_(N), and outputs a result to the signaladdition unit 62. As described above, the signal multiplication units61-1 to 61-N multiply the reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω) by theweighting coefficients a(θ, ω) for the respective directions θ₁ toθ_(N), and outputs resultant signals to the signal addition unit 62.

The signal addition unit 62 calculates the sum of the signals outputfrom the respective signal multiplication units 61-1 to 61-N, andoutputs the resultant sum as an estimated phase different signal xr(ω)to the error calculation unit 70. More specifically, the signal additionunit 62 determines the estimated phase different signal xr(ω) bycalculating the linear sum of the signals output from the respectivesignal multiplication units 61-1 to 61-N according to equation (7).

$\begin{matrix}{{{xr}(\omega)} = {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{N}\;\left\{ {{a\left( {\theta_{k},\omega} \right)} \cdot {r\left( {\theta_{k},\omega} \right)}} \right\}}} & (7)\end{matrix}$Error Calculation Unit 70

The error calculation unit 70 calculates, as an error, the differencebetween the first correlation matrix and the linear sum calculated bythe linear sum calculation unit 60. In the present embodiment, the errorcalculation unit 70 includes a signal subtraction unit 71 as illustratedin FIG. 4.

The signal subtraction unit 71 calculates an error signal e(ω) bysubtracting the estimated phase different signal xr(ω) provided by thesignal addition unit 62 from the phase difference signal x(ω) providedby the matrix element selection unit 31. More specifically, the signalsubtraction unit 71 calculates the error signal e(ω) according toequation (8).e(ω)=x(ω)−xr(ω)   (8)Nonlinear Function Unit 80

The nonlinear function unit 80 adds nonlinearity to the error using aparticular nonlinear function. More specifically, the nonlinear functionunit 80 converts the error signal e(ω) input from the signal subtractionunit 71 to a signal having added nonlinearity by applying a nonlinearfunction having a nonlinear input-output characteristic. The nonlinearfunction may be, for example, a hyperbolic tangent function. However,the nonlinear function is not limited to the hyperbolic tangentfunction, and an arbitrary nonlinear function may be used as long as ithas a nonlinear input-output characteristic that imposes a limit on thesignal amplitude. Even when the error signal e(ω) temporarily becomeslarge owing to a change in phase difference by an external disturbance,the nonlinearity makes it possible to suppress the influence on theweight change amount learned by the weight updating unit 90 describedlater.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of thenonlinear function unit 80 according to the first embodiment. Thenonlinear function unit 80 includes, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a realpart extraction unit 801, an imaginary part extraction unit 802, anonlinearity addition unit 803, a nonlinearity addition unit 804, animaginary unit multiplication unit 805, and a signal addition unit 806.

The real part extraction unit 801 extracts a real part of the inputerror signal e(ω) and outputs the extracted real part to thenonlinearity addition unit 803. The imaginary part extraction unit 802extracts an imaginary part of the input error signal e(ω) and outputsthe extracted imaginary part to the nonlinearity addition unit 804.

The nonlinearity addition unit 803 adds nonlinearity to the signalamplitude of the real part of the error signal e(ω) input from the realpart extraction unit 801 by applying the nonlinear function, and outputsa result to the signal addition unit 806. The nonlinearity addition unit804 adds nonlinearity to the signal amplitude of the imaginary part ofthe error signal e(ω) input from the imaginary part extraction unit 802by applying the nonlinear function, and outputs a result to theimaginary unit multiplication unit 805.

To convert the signals input from the nonlinearity addition unit 804back to the imaginary form, the imaginary unit multiplication unit 805multiplies the signal by the imaginary unit j and outputs a result tothe signal addition unit 806. The signal addition unit 806 adds thereal-part signal input from the nonlinearity addition unit 803 and theimaginary-part signal input from the imaginary unit multiplication unit805, and outputs a result as a complex signal f(e(ω)) added withnonlinearity to the weight updating unit 90.

Equation (9) shows an example of a complex signal f(e(ω)) added withnonlinearity. In equation (9), hyperbolic tangent tanh(·) is used by wayof example as the nonlinear function where real(·) denotes the realpart, imag(·) denotes the imaginary part, and j denotes the imaginaryunit.f(e(ω))=tan h(real(e(ω)))j·tan h(image(e(ω)))   (9)Weight Updating Unit 90

The weight updating unit 90 calculates weight change amounts from theerror and the second correlation matrices using an LMS (Least MeanSquare) algorithm or ICA (Independent Component Analysis), and updatingthe weights held in the holding unit 50 by adding the calculated weightchange amounts to the weights held in the holding unit 50. In a casewhere the sound source probing apparatus 1 includes the nonlinearfunction unit 80, the weight updating unit 90 calculates the weightchange amounts from the error modified nonlinearly by the nonlinearfunction unit 80 and the second correlation matrices, and updating theweights held in the holding unit 50 by adding the resultant weightchange amounts to the weights held in the holding unit 50.

In the present embodiment, the weight updating unit 90 receives inputsof the complex signal f(e(ω)) from the nonlinear function unit 80 andthe N phase difference signals r(θ₁, ω) to r(θ_(N), ω) from theselection unit 30. The weight updating unit 90 then calculates theweight change amounts Δa(θ₁, ω) to Δa(θ_(N), ω)) to be applied to theweighting coefficients a(θ₁, ω) to a(θ_(N), ω) that are multiplied bythe N phase difference signals r(θ₁, ω) to r(θ_(N), ω).

For example, in a case where the sound source probing apparatus 1 doesnot include the nonlinear function unit 80, the weight updating unit 90calculates the weight change amounts Δa(θ₁, ω) to Δa(θ_(N), ω) usingequation (10). On the other hand, in the case where the sound sourceprobing apparatus 1 includes the nonlinear function unit 80, the weightupdating unit 90 calculates the weight change amounts Δa(θ₁, ω) toΔa(θ_(N), ω) using equation (11).Δa(θ_(k), ω)=real(β·e(ω)·r(θ_(k), ω)*)   (10)Δa(θ_(k), ω)=real(β·f(e(ω))·r(θ_(k), ω)*)   (11)

Note that in equations (10) and (11), the weight change amounts areupdated using the LMS algorithm. β is a parameter for controlling theupdating rate. In the correlation matrices, the elements r_(ij)(ω) andr_(ji)(ω) are opposite in phase to each other. Therefore, equations (10)and (11) each include real(·) because the imaginary parts are cancelledout.

The weight updating unit 90 then updates the coefficients a(θ_(k), ω)stored in the holding unit 50 by using the calculated weight changeamounts according to equation (12) described below.a(θ_(k), ω)=a(θ_(k), ω)+Δa(θ_(k), ω)   (12)Spatial Spectrum Calculation Unit 100

The spatial spectrum calculation unit 100 calculates a spatial spectrumof an observation signal using the weights calculated by the learningunit 40 such that the spatial spectrum indicates sound pressureintensities in the respective directions.

In the present embodiment, the spatial spectrum calculation unit 100receives inputs of the weighting coefficients a(θ₁, ω) to a(θ_(N), ω)updated via learning by the weight updating unit 90 and held in theholding unit 50, and the spatial spectrum calculation unit 100calculates the spatial spectrum p(θ) and outputs the resultant spatialspectrum p(θ) to the output unit 110.

More specifically, the spatial spectrum calculation unit 100 obtains thespatial spectrum p(θ) by calculating the sum or the average, withrespect to the frequency ω, of the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) heldin the holding unit 50 according to equation (13) described below. Thiscan give the spatial spectrum p(θ), as described later, because theweighting coefficients a(θ, ω) indicate the intensities of acousticwaves as function of the direction θ and the frequency ω.

$\begin{matrix}{{p(\theta)} = {\sum\limits_{\omega}\;{a\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}}} & (13)\end{matrix}$Operation of Sound Source Probing Apparatus 1

A sound source probing process performed by the sound source probingapparatus 1 configured in the above-described manner is described below.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating the sound source probing process bythe sound source probing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

First, the sound source probing apparatus 1 performs a process ofcalculating a correlation matrix of an observation signal (S10). Morespecifically, the sound source probing apparatus 1 calculates anobservation correlation matrix Rx(ω) which is a correlation matrix ofacoustic signals detected as observation signals by the microphone array200 including two or more microphone units disposed apart from eachother.

Next, the sound source probing apparatus 1 performs a learning processon weights multiplied by respective reference correlation matrices(S20). More specifically, the sound source probing apparatus 1calculating, by learning, weights such that the linear sum of aplurality of reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω) respectivelymultiplied by weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) is equal to the observationcorrelation matrix Rx(ω) where the reference correlation matrices Rr(θ,ω) are correlation matrices calculated from the array arrangement of themicrophone array for respective directions and are stored in advance inthe storage 20.

Next, the sound source probing apparatus 1 performs a process ofcalculating a spatial spectrum of the observation signal (S30). Morespecifically, the sound source probing apparatus 1 calculates thespatial spectrum of the observation signal using the weights calculatedin step S10 such that the spatial spectrum indicates the sound pressureintensity as a function of the direction.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating details of the sound source probingprocess illustrated in FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, elements similar to those inFIG. 7 are denoted by similar symbols.

That is, first, in step S10, the microphone array 200 acquires anacoustic signal at time t (S101). Next, the frequency analysis unit 300perform frequency analysis on the acoustic signal acquired in step S101(S102), and the frequency analysis unit 300 converts the acoustic signalto a frequency spectrum signal which is a frequency-domain signal. Thesound source probing apparatus 1 then calculates an observationcorrelation matrix Rx(ω), which is a correlation matrix of theobservation signal at time t, from the frequency spectrum signalobtained via the conversion in step S102 (S103).

Next, in step S20, the specification number of iterations Nt specifyingthe number of times the learning process of the weights is to beperformed is set in the sound source probing apparatus 1 (S201). Thesound source probing apparatus 1 then selects an element, at a matrixelement position, of the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) and alsoselects an element, at a corresponding matrix element position, of eachof the reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω), and the sound sourceprobing apparatus 1 outputs a phase difference signal x(ω) and phasedifference signals r(θ, ω) (S202). Next, the sound source probingapparatus 1 calculates an error signal e(ω) from the phase differencesignal x(ω), the phase difference signals r(θ, ω), and the weightingcoefficient a(θ, ω) (S203). Next, the sound source probing apparatus 1calculates a complex signal f(e(ω)) by adding nonlinearity to the errorsignal e(ω) (S204). Next, the sound source probing apparatus 1calculates weight change amounts Δa(θ, ω) of the weighting coefficientsa(θ, ω) from the complex signal f(e(ω)) calculated in step S204 and thephase difference signals r(θ, ω) calculated in step S203, and updatesthe weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) according to the calculated weightchange amounts Δa(θ, ω) (S205). The sound source probing apparatus 1then determines whether the selection in S202 is completed for allmatrix elements of the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) and thereference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω) (S206). In a case where theselection is completed for all matrix elements (YES in S206), the soundsource probing apparatus 1 determines whether the number of iterationsof the learning process on the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) hasreached the specified number of iterations Nt (S207). In a case wherethe specified number of iterations Nt has been reached (YES in S207),the sound source probing apparatus 1 proceeds to next step S30. In acase where it is determined in step S206 that the selection is notcompleted for all matrix elements (NO in S206) or in a case where it isdetermined in step S207 that the specified number of iterations Nt hasnot yet been reached (NO in S207), the processing flow returns to stepS202.

Next, in step S30, the sound source probing apparatus 1 calculates thespatial spectrum p(θ) of the observation signal from the weightingcoefficients a(θ, ω) updated via the learning in step S20 (S301).

Next, in step S40, the sound source probing apparatus 1 updates the timet to new time t+Δt, and then in step S50 the sound source probingapparatus 1 determines whether the sound source probing process is to beended. In a case where it is determined that the sound source probingprocess is not to be ended (NO in S50), the processing flow returns tostep S10, and the correlation matrix of the observation signal at timet+Δt is calculated as the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω).

As described above, the sound source probing apparatus 1 repeats thelearning on the weighting coefficients for each of all matrix elementsuntil the linear sum of the reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω)respectively multiplied by the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) is equalto the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω). The sound source probingapparatus 1 may repeat the learning as many times as specified by thevalue Nt. For example, in a case where the reference correlationmatrices Rr(θ, ω) and the observation correlation matrices Rx(ω) areeach a 3×3 matrix and the specified number of times Nt is 3, thelearning process is performed three times for each of three elements ofan upper triangular matrix or a lower triangular matrix, and thus thelearning process is performed nine times in total. By performing thelearning process in the above-described manner, it is possible todetermine the values of the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) such that thelinear sum of the reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω) respectivelymultiplied by the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) becomes closer to theobservation correlation matrix Rx(ω).

Principle of Operation

Next, a principle is described below as to the learning on the weightingcoefficients such that the linear sum of the reference correlationmatrices Rr(θ, ω) respectively multiplied by the weighting coefficientsa(θ, ω) is equal to the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω). Aprinciple is described also as to the calculation of the spatialspectrum p(θ) using the obtained weighting coefficients a(θ, ω).

It is known that the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) determinedbased on the signals from the microphone array 200, that is, theobservation correlation matrix Rx(ω) output from the correlation matrixcalculation unit 10 can be approximated by a linear sum of correlationmatrices Rs(θ, ω), associated with a spatial sound source existing in adirection θ, multiplied by intensities u(θ, ω). Rs(θ, ω) has directioninformation, that is, information indicating the phase differencebetween the acoustic waves detected by the microphone units depending onthe sound arrival direction. The intensity u(θ, ω) indicates strength ofan acoustic wave. By determining the intensity u(θ, ω) of the acousticwave for each direction θ, it is possible to determine the spatialspectrum p(θ).

$\begin{matrix}{{{Rx}(\omega)}{\sum\limits_{\theta}\;\left\{ {{u\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} \cdot {{Rs}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}} \right\}}} & (14)\end{matrix}$

In equation (14), the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) is anobservable correlation matrix and is a known variable. On the otherhand, the intensities u(θ, ω) and the correlation matrices Rs(θ, ω) areunknown variables. The correlation matrices Rs(θ, ω) are correlationmatrices associated with the respective directions θ. Each matrixelement of a correlation matrix associated with a particular direction θindicates a phase difference among microphone units in a state in whichan acoustic wave comes from the direction θ. Thus, the correlationmatrix Rs(θ, ω) can be rewritten by theoretical values for theparticular known microphone unit arrangement of the microphone array asa function of the direction θ and the acoustic velocity c. Note thatequations (4), (5), and (6) indicate the reference correlation matricesRr(θ, ω) representing theoretical values obtained by rewriting thecorrelation matrices Rs(θ, ω) using known information.

When the unknown variables, that is, the intensities u(θ, ω) of thespatial spectrum to be determined by the sound source probing apparatus1 are given by the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω), equation (14) can berewritten as equation (15).

$\begin{matrix}{{{Rx}(\omega)} = {\sum\limits_{\theta}\;\left\{ {{a\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} \cdot {{Rr}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}} \right\}}} & (15)\end{matrix}$

In equation (15), the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) representsobserved values and the reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω)represent known theoretical values. Therefore, to calculate equation(15) is a problem of determining the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω).This type of problem is also called a semi-blind problem.

This problem is different from other usual methods of identifyingacoustic signals in that the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) andthe reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω) are matrices, the weightingcoefficients a(θ, ω) are one-dimensional coefficients, and signalscorresponding to the observation signal and the reference signals aregiven by complex numbers in the form of rotors that represent phasedifferences whose amplitude is always equal to 1.

Since the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) and the referencecorrelation matrices Rr(θ, ω) are matrices and the weightingcoefficients a(θ, ω) are one-dimensional coefficients, the weightingcoefficients a(θ, ω) to be determined here values of the weightingcoefficients a(θ, ω) that are correct solutions for any combinations ofcorresponding matrix elements of the observation correlation matrixRx(ω) and the reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω). That is, theproblem given here is to determine the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) inequation (16) which is obtained by rewriting equation (15) to anexpression using matrix elements. In equation (16), x_(ij)(ω) denotes amatrix element of the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω), andr_(ij)(θ, ω) denotes a matrix element of the reference correlationmatrix Rr(θ, ω).

$\begin{matrix}{{x_{ij}(\omega)} = {\sum\limits_{\theta}\;\left\{ {{a\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} \cdot {r_{ij}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}} \right\}}} & (16)\end{matrix}$

In the present embodiment, equation (16) is rewritten to equation (17),and values of a(θ, ω) that minimize the error signal e(ω), which is anestimated error, are determined via learning using LMS or ICA(Independent Component Analysis). Note that the learning method is notlimited to these examples.

$\begin{matrix}{{e(\omega)} = {{x_{ij}(\omega)} - {\sum\limits_{\theta}\;\left\{ {{a\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} \cdot {r_{ij}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}} \right\}}}} & (17)\end{matrix}$

More specifically, to determine weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) thatsatisfy equation (17) for an arbitrary matrix element position of thex_(ij)(ω) and r_(ij)(θ, ω), the selection unit 30 repeatedly selectsmatrix elements from one matrix element position to another, and thelearning of the weighting coefficients is performed for each matrixelement position. The signal multiplication units 61-1, . . . , 61-Nperform the multiplication operations in the second term on theright-hand side of equation (17). The signal addition unit 62 performsthe addition operation (denoted by Σ) in equation (17). The signalsubtraction unit 71 performs the subtraction operation in equation (17).

Since the signals corresponding to the observation signal and thereference signals are given by complex numbers in the form of rotorsrepresenting phase differences whose amplitude is always equal to 1,nonlinearity is added to the error signal e(ω) such that mutualinfluences among directions are suppressed by means of independentcomponent analysis (ICA).

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the error signale(ω) is divided into a real part and an imaginary part, and a nonlinearfunction such as that described in equation (9) is applied to each ofthe real part and the imaginary part. In this way, differences dependingon the sound direction θ are learned as independent components, and thusit becomes possible to achieve a convergence without being interferedsignificantly with other directions.

In view of the above, the weighting coefficients are updated accordingto equations (10) and (11). After obtaining the weighting coefficientsa(θ, ω) learned in the above-described manner, it is possible tocalculate the spatial spectrum p(θ) to be output from the sound sourceprobing apparatus 1 according to equation (13) using the learnedweighting coefficients a(θ, ω).

Effects

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the soundsource probing apparatus 1 is capable of determining the spatialspectrum p(θ) based on the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) of theacoustic signals detected via the plurality of microphone units of themicrophone array 200. More specifically, the reference correlationmatrices Rr(θ, ω) associated with respective directions are prepared inadvance by performing the theoretical calculation based on the arrayarrangement of the microphone array 200, and the weighting coefficientsa(θ, ω) are calculated via learning such that the reference correlationmatrices Rr(θ, ω) associated with the respective directions aremultiplied by the corresponding weighting coefficient a(θ, ω), and thesum of these products becomes equal to the observation correlationmatrix Rx(ω). Thereafter, using the obtained weighting coefficients a(θ,ω), the spatial spectrum p(θ) is calculated. This allows it to estimateintensities in directions in which a disturbing sound source and a soundsource to be probed exist by iteratively calculating weightingcoefficients a(θ, ω) instead of performing a large amount of calculationto determine the spatial spectrum from the correlation matrices anddirectional vectors, and thus it is possible to determine, in as smallintervals as frequency analysis frames of several milliseconds toseveral seconds, the spatial spectrum p(θ) based on the observationcorrelation matrix Rx(ω of the acoustic signal detected via themicrophone units. That is, the sound source probing apparatus 1according to the present embodiment provides an excellent performance interms of quick response to a change in sound.

Furthermore, the sound source probing apparatus 1 according to thepresent embodiment is capable of calculating the intensities inrespective directions while cancelling out influences by otherdirections. For example, let it be assumed that an angle range from θ₁to θ_(m) is a probing angle range and a disturbing sound exists in anangle range from θ_(m+1) to θ_(N) and thus this range is a non-probingrange. Equation (15) can be rewritten such that a term associated withthe probing range to be detected is put on the left-hand side and a termassociated with the non-probing range in which a disturbing sound existsis put on the right-hand side as shown in equation (18).

$\begin{matrix}{{\sum\limits_{\theta = 1}^{m}\;\left\{ {{a\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} \cdot {{Rr}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}} \right\}} = {{{Rx}(\omega)} - {\sum\limits_{\theta = {m + 1}}^{N}\;\left\{ {{a\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)} \cdot {{Rr}\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}} \right\}}}} & (18)\end{matrix}$

In equation (18) rewritten in the above-described manner, the term onthe left-hand side is a correlation matrix corresponding to a spatialspectrum obtained as a result of sound source probing. The first term onthe right-hand side of equation (18) is an observation correlationmatrix associated with a mixture of sounds observed in all directions,and the second term on the right-hand side of equation (18) is acorrelation matrix associated with a disturbing sound component. It canbe seen that in the right-hand side of equation (18), the correlationmatrix of the disturbing sound component is subtracted from theobservation correlation matrix Rx(ω), that is, the disturbing soundcomponent is eliminated. This elimination occurs in each direction θ,and thus an increase in noise immunity performance is achieved.Furthermore, since the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) are determinedsimultaneously for all directions, it is also possible to achieve aquick response to a change in sound.

Thus, in the sound source probing apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment, by calculating the spatial spectrum p(θ) from the weightingcoefficients a(θ, ω) in the probing range, it is possible to achieve thehigh noise immunity performance, the high performance in terms of thequick response to a change in sound, and the high sound source probingperformance.

As described above, in the sound source probing apparatus 1 according tothe present embodiment, it is assured that it is possible of detecting asound source in the probing range. Furthermore, according to the presentembodiment, the sound source probing apparatus 1, the calculation of thespatial spectrum p(θ) using the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) makes itpossible to achieve the high noise immunity performance and the highperformance in terms of the quick response to a change in sound.

Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, effects of the sound source probingapparatus 1 according to the present embodiment are described below.

FIG. 9 is a spatial spectrum diagram in a comparative example in whichthe spatial spectrum is calculated using the technique disclosed inJapanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-56181 for acase where a sound source N1 and a sound source N2 that may disturb asound source S exist close to the sound source S.

In the spatial spectrum shown in FIG. 9, the intensity of the soundsource N1 functioning as a disturbing sound appears not only in adirection in which the sound source N1 exists but also appears over awide range such that the intensity decreases as the direction (theangle) goes away from the direction of the sound source N1. Theintensity of the sound source N2 functioning as a disturbing sound alsoappears in a similar manner to the sound source N1. As a result, asillustrated in FIG. 9, in a case where the sound pressure levels of thesound source N1 and sound source N2 are higher than the sound pressurelevel of the sound source S, the peak of the intensity of the soundsource S is hidden below the two peaks of the intensity of the soundsource N1 and the sound source N2 functioning as disturbing sounds.Thus, the technique of this comparative example is not capable ofdetecting the peak of the intensity of the sound source S and thus thistechnique is not capable of detecting the existence of the sound sourceS. That is, the technique of this comparative example is not capable ofprobing the direction of the sound source S.

FIG. 10 illustrates a spatial spectrum obtained according to the firstembodiment in which the spatial spectrum is calculated by the soundsource probing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment also forthe case where the sound source N1 and the sound source N2 that maydisturb the sound source S exist close to the sound source S. Since thesound source probing apparatus 1 calculates the spatial spectrum p(θ)using the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω), the interference amongdirections can be cancelled out. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10,regardless of whether the sound pressure levels of the sound source N1and the sound source N2 are higher or lower than the sound pressurelevel of the sound source S, peaks appear separately among the peak ofthe intensity of the sound source S and the two peaks of the intensityof the sound source N1 and the sound source N2 functioning as disturbingsounds. That is, it is possible to simultaneously probing distinctivelythe peaks of the intensity of the sound source S and the two peaks ofthe intensity of the sound source N1 and the sound source N2 functioningas disturbing sounds.

Thus, in the sound source probing apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment, it is assured that it is possible of detecting a soundsource in the probing range.

Note that in the observation correlation matrix Rx(ω) calculated by thecorrelation matrix calculation unit 10 and the reference correlationmatrices Rr(θ, ω) in the respective probing directions θ stored in thestorage 20, elements in the upper triangular matrix or arbitraryselected elements of the correlation matrix used in the calculation maybe represented in the form of vectors. In this case, the selection unit30 may sequentially select elements of the vectors and may output theselected elements.

In the embodiments described above, it is assumed by way of example thatthe number of directions, N, is 180 for the reference correlationmatrices Rr(θ, ω) and the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω). However, thenumber of directions is not limited to 180. Depending on the purpose ofthe sound source probing apparatus 1 and/or the number of microphoneunits of the microphone array or the calculation amount, the number ofdirections N may be increased or reduced with no specific limit. Theangle intervals may be set to be constant or not constant. In the abovedescription of the present embodiment, no particular limit is imposed onthe range of the frequency ω for the observation correlation matrixRx(ω), the reference correlation matrices Rr(θ, ω), and the weightingcoefficients a(θ, ω). However, the range of the frequency ω may belimited depending on the frequency components included in the soundsource.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment described above, by way of example, the spatialspectrum p(θ) is calculated using the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω)subjected to the learning. For example, an acoustic signal waveformcoming from a specified direction may be calculated using the weightingcoefficients a(θ, ω) subjected to the learning. This case is describedbelow as a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of asound source probing system 1000A according to the second embodiment.The sound source probing system 1000A is a microphone apparatus using asound source probing apparatus. In FIG. 11, elements similar to those inFIG. 1 or FIG. 4 are denoted by similar symbols, and a furtherdescription thereof is omitted.

The sound source probing system 1000A illustrated in FIG. 11 isdifferent from the sound source probing system 1000 according to thefirst embodiment in the configurations of an acoustic signal spectrumcalculation unit 100A, an output unit 110A, and an IFFT 120.

Acoustic Signal Spectrum Calculation Unit 100A

The acoustic signal spectrum calculation unit 100A receives inputs ofweighting coefficients a(θ, ω) held in a holding unit 50, a frequencyspectrum signal Sm1(ω) of an acoustic signal m1(n) supplied from amicrophone unit 201, and a direction θ₀ specifying a direction in whicha signal is to be acquired, and the acoustic signal spectrum calculationunit 100A calculates an acoustic signal spectrum Y(ω) to be output.

More specifically, the acoustic signal spectrum calculation unit 100Acalculates the acoustic signal spectrum Y(ω) according to equation (19).Y(ω)=a(θ₀, ω)Sm1(ω)   (19)

From the point of view of the angle resolution in the sound sourceprobing, depending on the size of the microphone array 200 or the numberof microphone units, weighting coefficients in a small angle rangearound the specified direction θ₀ may be added together as described inequation (20).

$\begin{matrix}{{Y(\omega)} = {\left\{ {\sum\limits_{\theta = {{\theta\; 0} - \Delta}}^{{\theta\; 0} + \Delta}\;{a\left( {\theta,\omega} \right)}} \right\}{Sm}\; 1(\theta)}} & (20)\end{matrix}$

The weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) in equation (19) and equation (20)represent the intensities of acoustic waves in the respective directionsθ as described above in the section of “Principle of operation”, andthus the weighting coefficient a(θ, ω) in a particular direction θrepresents the ratio of the intensity of the spectrum in this directionθ to the total spectrum over the all directions. Therefore, bymultiplying the weighting coefficients a(θ, ω) by the frequency spectrumSm1(ω) in the respective directions, it is possible to calculate theacoustic signal spectrum Y(ω) for the acoustic wave coming from thespecified direction θ₀.

IFFT 120

the IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform) 120 determines an acousticsignal waveform y(n) obtained by performing an inverse fast Fouriertransform on the acoustic signal spectrum Y(ω) calculated by theacoustic signal spectrum calculation unit 100A, and the IFFT 120 outputthe resultant acoustic signal waveform y(n) to the output unit 110A.

Effects

According to the present embodiment, as described above, the soundsource probing system 1000A is capable of calculating an acoustic signalwaveform y(n) associated with only a specified particular directionusing the coefficients a(θ, ω) calculated via the learning by the soundsource probing apparatus having a high noise immunity performance, andoutputting the resultant acoustic signal waveform y(n). Thus it ispossible to achieve a function of a microphone apparatus capable ofextracting only a sound coming in a particular direction.

The sound source probing apparatus or the like according to one or aplurality of aspects of the present disclosure has been described abovewith reference to embodiments and modifications. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited to those embodiments or modificationsdescribed above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatmany various modifications may be applicable to the embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.Furthermore, constituent elements of different embodiments may becombined. In this case, any resultant combination also falls within thescope of the present disclosure. Some examples of such modifications,which also fall within the scope of the present disclosure, aredescribed below.

(1) The sound source probing apparatus or the like described above maybe a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a had disunit, a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, etc. In the RAM or the haddis unit, a computer program is stored. The microprocessor operatesaccording to the computer program so as to achieve functions of therespective constituent elements. The computer program includes acombination of a plurality of codes indicating instructions according towhich the computer is to operate to achieve the functions.

(2) Part or all of the constituent elements of the sound source probingapparatus or the like described above may be implemented in a singlesystem LSI (Large Scale Integration). The system LSI is asuper-multifunction LSI including a plurality of parts integrated on asingle chip. More specifically, the system LSI is a computer systemincluding a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, etc. In the RAM, a computerprogram is stored. The microprocessor operates according to the computerprogram such that the system LSI achieves its functions.

(3) Part or all of the constituent elements of the sound source probingapparatus or the like described above may be implemented in the form ofan IC card attachable to various apparatuses or may be implemented inthe form of a single module. The IC card or the module is a computersystem including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, etc. The IC card or themodule may include the super-multifunction LSI described above. Themicroprocessor operates according to the computer program such that theIC card or the module achieve its functions. The IC card or the modulemay be tamper resistant.

The present disclosure may be applied to a sound source probingapparatus using a plurality of microphone units, and more particularlyto a sound source probing apparatus capable of probing a direction of asound source whose sound level at the microphone units is low comparedwith ambient sounds as in a case where the sound to be probed is a soundfrom a radio control helicopter or a drone located relative far from thesound source probing apparatus.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sound source probing apparatus that probes adirection of a sound source, comprising: storage; and processingcircuitry that, in operation, performs operations including determininga first correlation matrix that is a correlation matrix of acousticsignals acquired as observation signals by a microphone array includingtwo or more microphones disposed apart from each other, determining, bylearning, weights such that a linear sum of a plurality of secondcorrelation matrices multiplied by the respective weights is equal tothe first correlation matrix where the plurality of second correlationmatrices are correlation matrices, which are determined for respectivedirections determined based on an array arrangement of the microphonearray and which are stored in advance in the storage, and determining,using the determined weights, a spatial spectrum of the observationsignal indicating sound pressure intensities in the respectivedirections.
 2. The sound source probing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the operations further include selecting one first element fromelements of the first correlation matrix and also selecting one secondelement from elements of each of the second correlation matrices suchthat each second element is at a matrix element position correspondingto a matrix element position of the first element, and sequentiallychanging the first element and the second elements by changing thematrix element position at which the first and second elements areselected, and wherein the determining of the weights includes updatingthe weights from first values to second values that allow a linear sumof the second elements multiplied by the respective second values of theweights to be equal to the first element, updating the weights from thesecond values to third values that allow a linear sum of next-selectedsecond elements multiplied by the respective third values of the weightsto be equal to a next-selected first element, and further repeating theupdating of the values of the weights each time the first element andthe second elements are changed thereby determining the weights.
 3. Thesound source probing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in theselecting, the first element and the second elements are selected onlyfrom either one of two groups of elements of respective correlationmatrices including the first correlation matrix and the secondcorrelation matrices, the two groups of elements of each correlationmatrix being defined such that the correlation matrix is divided intothe two groups by a boundary defined by diagonal elements such that eachgroup includes a plurality of elements but does not include the diagonalelements.
 4. The sound source probing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein in the determining of the weights, the weights are determinedbased on the second correlation matrix and an error between the linearsum and the first correlation matrix using an LMS (Least Mean Square)algorithm or ICA (Independent Component Analysis).
 5. The sound sourceprobing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining of theweights includes holding the weights, determining a linear sum of theproducts of the second correlation matrices and the respective heldweights, determining an error defined by the difference between thelinear sum and the first correlation matrix, determining weight changeamounts from the error and the products of the second correlationmatrices and the weights, and updating the weights by addling the weightchange amounts to the respective held weights.
 6. The sound sourceprobing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in the determining ofthe weights, the weight change amounts may be determined from the errorand the second correlation matrices using an LMS algorithm or ICA. 7.The sound source probing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein thedetermining of the weights may further include adding nonlinearity tothe error using a predetermined nonlinear function, and in thedetermining of the update amounts, the weight change amounts aredetermined from the error added with the nonlinearity and the secondcorrelation matrices.
 8. A method of probing a direction of a soundsource, comprising: determining a first correlation matrix that is acorrelation matrix of acoustic signals acquired as observation signalsby a microphone array including two or more microphones disposed apartfrom each other; determining, by learning, weights such that a linearsum of a plurality of second correlation matrices multiplied by therespective weights is equal to the first correlation matrix where theplurality of second correlation matrices are correlation matrices, whichare determined for respective directions determined based on an arrayarrangement of the microphone array and which are stored in advance instorage, and determining, using the determined weights, a spatialspectrum of the observation signal indicating sound pressure intensitiesin the respective directions.
 9. A computer-readable non-transitorystorage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute amethod of probing a direction of a sound source, the program, whenexecuted by the computer, causing the computer to execute the methodincluding determining a first correlation matrix that is a correlationmatrix of acoustic signals acquired as observation signals by amicrophone array including two or more microphones disposed apart fromeach other, determining, by learning, weights such that a linear sum ofa plurality of second correlation matrices multiplied by the respectiveweights is equal to the first correlation matrix where the plurality ofsecond correlation matrices are correlation matrices, which aredetermined for respective directions determined based on an arrayarrangement of the microphone array and which are stored in advance instorage, and determining, using the determined weights, a spatialspectrum of the observation signal indicating sound pressure intensitiesin the respective directions.